Tattooed, Tested, and Transformed: Sage’s Journey to the Temple

"It's a little scary, you know, going to church with tattoos for the first time or having multicolored hair and going to church or dressing a certain way. But like at the end of the day, we are all children of God. He's just happy to see us there. And even if you don't feel like you belong, you belong because he accepts you. You belong because you belong with Christ. Not because you belong with the crowd, but because you belong with Christ."

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Why is religious freedom good business sense?

Brian Grim shares his calling to be a missionary when he was only 4-years-old and how that eventually led him to Catholicism, but also a life as an educator in the former Soviet Union, China, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe from 1982-2002. Eventually his research in economics reveals that religious freedom is good for business.

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Creating a Chick-fil-A Ward

Scott Rasband worked 15 years in medical device sales and leadership before transitioning to Chick-fil-A, and has spent the last 10 years operating the Chick-fil-A in Spanish Fork, Utah. In the Church, Scott has served as a Young Men president, elders quorum president, bishopric counselor, and bishop. He is the father of five and currently serves as the bishop of a Young Single Adult ward.

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Lifting the Ban: The Untold Story of the 1978 Revelation

This week—June 9th—marks the 47th anniversary of the 1978 revelation that ended the Church’s 126-year ban on Black members receiving the priesthood and entering the temple. It’s a moment we often point to with reverence and gratitude—but the story we’ve inherited about how it happened is, in many ways, incomplete.To help us understand more fully what led to that pivotal moment, we’re joined by Dr. Matthew Harris, whose new book Second-Class Saints draws on previously unavailable documents—including the complete, unredacted journals from Pres. Spencer W. Kimball and private papers from several other apostles and prophets who were part of this story. What emerges is a story of complex revelation—one that didn’t arrive all at once, but unfolded slowly through conversation, persuasion, and deep personal growth.We sometimes talk about the 1978 revelation as if it came out of nowhere—a sudden command from heaven. But Matt helps us see the reality that this was a process shaped by years of thoughtful wrestling and dialogue, by courageous individuals who quietly worked to open hearts and minds, and by the unwavering faith of Black members who carried impossible burdens with grace and conviction.In our conversation today, we explored what it means to be part of a living church—one that’s capable of change because it’s built on continuing revelation. We talked about how “doctrine” has been defined and redefined across the Church’s history, the vital role each of us plays in the process of institutional revelation, because this isn’t just about the past—it’s about how we show up today: how we answer President Nelson’s call to root out racism and build a more inclusive future within the body of Christ.We’re deeply grateful to Matt for his careful, bold work. And with that, we’ll jump right into our conversation with Matt Harris.

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From Exile to Return Patrick Mason

No one shows up as a peacemaker all the time. Even those most committed to peace experience moments of conflict and alienation—from their communities, their loved ones, even themselves. Patrick Mason puts it plainly: “I’m a professor who teaches about peace, but I’m still learning what it means to be a peacemaker.”

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Diversity in the Bible

Janette Ok tells us about the recently released The New Testament In Color, a massive project involving numerous academics and perspectives. She teaches us that, when we view the scriptures through the lens of culture, we can make these sacred texts more colorful and find more application in our lives. Janette H. Ok serves as Associate Professor of New Testament at Fuller Seminary, where she has guest-hosted "Centering: The Asian American Christian Podcast." Her most recent book is the co-edited volume The New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Biblical Commentary (IVP Academic, 2024). Janette is an ordained pastor and preacher with over 25 years of ministry experience.

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